Project Officer; Operation Come to School Project at Special Olympics Kenya

Role/Purpose:

Under the supervision of Project Manager, effectively implement Operation Come-To-School Project activities in Earmarked ASAL Counties He/she will ensure quality delivery of programmes and maintenance of high professional standards in all assigned counties of project implementation. The Project Officer will be responsible for implementation (mobilization/identification, assessment, appropriate placement, enrolment and retention of out of school children with disabilities) monitoring and reporting of all project activities.

Program Planning

• Under the direction and guidance of the Education Project Manager, coordinate plans for the implementation of the project activities in all target school communities.
• Work with the Project Manager and other education team members and partner organizations to develop project implementation and procurement plans.
• Work with the Project Manager and project Team to prepare and/or revise project monitoring tools to track indicators and monitor achievement of objectives and impact of the program.
• In collaboration with the Education Project team, prepare plans for capacity building and training of school managements on various trainings needs.
• Work collaboratively with the Project Manager and CDEs to design criteria for selection of trainees for the school-based inclusive education teacher-training programme.
• Prepare plans for regular field monitoring visits together with Project manager and other project staff.

Program Implementation:

• Ensure that project activities are implemented in accordance with the approved work plans and with the involvement of partners and concerned stakeholders at all levels.
• Ensure project activities are implemented in the most efficient, effective and sustainable manner.
• Ensure that identification, enrolment and retention of out of school children with disabilities’ program is implemented effectively.
• Assist the Project Manager in the development and implementation of a modality of government efforts in implementing disability inclusive education that ensures that no one is left behind and the newly enrolled out of school children with disabilities are retained.
• Ensure effective and efficient identification, assessment, appropriate placement, enrolment and retention of out of school children with disabilities.
• Support County Directors of Education in prompt accurate regular data collection using existing tools in order to track project performance on indicators.
• Ensure that good practices and lessons are documented and shared with the project team to inform project strengthening and equity in education.
• Travel to all delegated project sites to work with other stakeholders in each project implementation counties.
• Assist the Project Manager in preparation of periodic progress reports in a timely manner for both internal and external use.

Program Support Operations:

• Coordinate with other departments to ensure that field activities including logistics (transport, warehousing and asset management), procurement, are smoothly run.
• Network with other SOK programs in target counties to ensure integration and that the projects runs smoothly and efficiently and draws from best experiences and lessons for improved programming.

Qualification and experience:

• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in Education/ Social sciences or its equivalent
• Minimum of three (3) years’ work experience in education sector
• Knowledge of in disability inclusive education, education sector policy, child rights and protection issues
• Experiences in facilitating community-based sensitization forums and awareness campaigns
• Strong self-driven, able to take initiative and adapt to changing circumstances and priorities
• Positive attitude towards community work with emphasis on the ability to learn from communities and support participatory, innovative approaches to problem solving
• Excellent communication skills and a willingness to be respectful, kind, sensitive and empathise with all out of school children with disabilities and their caregivers
• Fluent in written and spoken English, Kiswahili and county specific local languages.
• Excellent report writing skills
• Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions
• Commitment to Special Olympics Child Protection Policy.

Desirable qualifications

• Previous experience in working with NGOs in delivering equity in education to children with disabilities
• Demonstrated teamwork skills
• High level of motivation and enthusiasm for inclusive education
• Strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills
• Comprehensive understanding essentials for inclusive education for children with disabilities is essential
• Experience of working with communities and other education stakeholder agencies
• Experience in working with digital data collection programs